Meet colour trend predictor, Leatrice Eiseman

WE interior enthusiasts know that the colour of the year is Marsala, says Carol O’Callaghan.

This style diktat influences everything from catwalk fashion to the perky little cushion you buy to liven up your home — but who decides this? Pantone do.

The company is probably most famous for its colour-block mugs and mesmerising colour cards. Pantone not only determine every shade, hue and nuance of each colour, but are accepted by the design world as a global authority. It has had this pre-eminent position for 50 years.